2024 update | 10 tips on what to wear for HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PICTURES | Girl edition | Jacksonville and St.Augustine senior photographer
Are you trying to figure out what to wear for your senior session! Don’t worry, this blog post is perfect for you!
As a premier North Florida high school senior and college grad photographer, I am so honored that I have the ability to photograph all of you in so many different places, so I want to make sure that this blog shows multiple types of locations - that way you can envision what outfit/clothing works best for each landscape/background. I’ve also added a list of brands that my seniors love shopping at - just scroll all the way down to see them.
You most definitely want to look your best and make sure these images look good in the yearbook, social media, album or on the wall! And I will do everything I can to showcase your beauty inside out so your images will look like you just walked off the shoot with Vogue magazine!
Get comfy, grab a strawberry refreshner (or maybe a caramel macchiato) and go through every piece of advice since your outfit choices will either make or break the session - and I would rather have you cry happy tears when you first see your images! Here are some tips and tricks as well as examples of what my previous seniors have been wearing.
YOUR SENIOR SESSION LOCATION MATTERS!
So, this first tip is pretty obvious, but still needs to be stated! Depending on where you are doing your senior photos, will also depend on what to wear! Now, does that mean if we are on the beach, you can’t be dressy? Absolutely not! Just like if we are doing beach photos, you will want to save those sparkly heels for another time - for example downtown Jacksonville or St.Augustine would be more preppy and glamorous where those heels come handy!
2. PLAN FOR SEVERAL OUTFITS!
Now, depending on how long of a session you have booked (or will book) you want to be prepared to bring several outfits. If you do 1h session I recommend 2 outfits (if you are really quick and changing maybe 3). For 2h session do 3-4 outfits and for 3h session up to 6 outfits. Let me explain - if your photoshoot is just 1 hour you want to make sure you have enough time to actually take pictures and move around in the location versus changing outfits and doing makeup retouch most of the time. That will end up cutting your session time way shorter and the variety of images will be smaller so I really want to make sure you get the most out of the senior photoshoot!
3. HAIR & MAKEUP!
This is an important one! If you don’t like the way your hair or makeup looks then you will not like your images no matter the location, posing or outfit you’re wearing. Looking and feeling your best is a MUST when it comes to your senior photos!
I highly recommend booking a professional! I can recommend Paulina Perez Makeup Artistry and her team! I’ve used this company myself and have plenty of clients used their services as well and everyone has been so pleased! Paulina Perez does both hair & makeup so you don’t have to hire 2 different companies! So convenient!
Another tip - please make sure your eyebrows are taken care of as well - I do several close-ups throughout the session! Same goes to lips (you might not even think about that) - I recommend using a towel or some sort of scrub a couple of days prior your session to make sure the skin on the lips does not look dry/flaky on the day of the shoot. Also, don’t forget to moisturize them! If you start thinking about it a day before then unfortunately it will be too late to fix all that.
Don’t neglect your nails - they show on almost every image so plan a manicure and pedicure for a day or two before the session.
4. FLOWY DRESSES!
Now, if you are here or if you are seeing my work, you know that I create a lot of movement in my photos! Cause that’s what I do! So, if it is your style, I truly recommend flowy dresses! And they create movement no matter the location- mountaintop, beach, rocks, you name it, a flowy dress is where it’s at!
PRO TIP - Bring your prom dress and let’s take some stunning pictures with it as well! I' know you love this piece a lot so why not have it as part of your senior session outfit!
5. ACCESSORIES ARE AMAZING!
I absolutely love when girls wear their jewelry or bring their favorite designer purse - it’s beautiful and unique! But I don’t mean just accessories on YOU - want to bring your fur babies, do it! Want to bring an instrument, do it! Want to bring your favorite book? DO IT! Want to bring your bike? DO IT! Think of what is important to you and make sure you use that in your session!
6. JEANS!
I feel like this needed it’s on caption - jeans are always IN and never out of style. They also allow you do poses that you otherwise might not able too (some poses are not dress-friendly). I most definitely recommend bringing a cute pair of jeans to your senior session - there are a million ways how to mix and match outfits when wearing them like add a cute top, button down shirt tucked in, strapless tank top or a sweater for colder weather. Also - jeans can be long or shorts. Depending on the season we can do both or just one of the options!
7. BRING SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE!
We are all unique and be sure to express that during your senior session as well - for example if you are part of a cheerleading team - bring your outfit and let’s take some pictures with you wearing that as well! Or maybe you play soccer, tennis or do any other kind of sports? You are obsessed with your car? Bring it and we’ll get some unique images! You have an access to a boat, yacht or small airplane? Let me know and I can’t wait to come up with some super amazing ideas!
Another idea - if you already know (even if you don’t feel free to bring several options) what your future university will be then feel free to bring a T-shirt with that school’s logo or anything else that is obvious and showing your new journey in another school once you graduate high school!
8. MAKE SURE YOUR OUTFIT LOOKS GOOD IN EVERY ANGLE!
During your senior photoshoot we will be moving around quite a bit and you’ll be most likely twirling, running, jumping and maybe even climbing at some point during your session. I now also use a drone for my seniors so you want to look good even from the sky! Haha! Make sure you have at least one outfit that is “jump-proof” and “twirl-proof” without exposing too much!
9. LAYER UP FOR WINTER!
I know, I know we live in Florida and winters here are not bad but trust me - I’ve been on a shoot with a hat and cloves and I was still freezing! Sometimes it does get cold and you want to make sure you are prepared! Besides - adding layers or clothes or a cute blanket on your shoulders will actually look super cute!
10. BE YOURSELF AND HAVE FUN!
Maybe getting dressed up just isn’t you! Or maybe you are not looking to roll around in the sand and water. Do you just want something simple for your senior session, or maybe you are looking for something fun and unique!? DO IT!! I will never ever make you do something you don’t want! Communication is KEY to our session, and I promise you, we will create the perfect photoshoot for you!
FAVORITE BRANDS/STORES FOR CLOTHING!
$$$: LoveShackFancy | for Love & Lemons | Revolve
$$: Altar’d State | Abercrombie & Fitch | ASOS
$: PrettyLittleThing | Zara | H&M | Forever 21
I hope this blog post helped you as you are planning what to wear for your senior photoshoot! Not only do you want to feel good, but you also want to look good, and of course, choose an amazing senior photographer to make sure your photos look the best!!!